Soon, your smartphone will be your hotel room 'digital key'

NEW DELHI: You will soon be able to use your smartphone as your hotel room key. Hilton Worldwide, the world's largest hotel chain, is going to introduce this facility at its Indian properties next year that will allow guests to completely bypass the reception queues and do away with check-in formalities. While other big hospitality players in India did not comment on whether they have or plan to introduce this facility, they may also do so once Hilton rolls it out here.

"We already have digital check-in and room selection and now we are going to have digital key where HHonors (Hilton guest loyalty programme) members can use their smartphones to directly go to their room without going to the front desk to get a room key. Using Bluetooth and pressing their phone against the door knob will open the door. We will have this facility in India at all our hotels from next year," Hilton's VP (development, India) Kaushik Vardharajan told TOI.

Digital key is the final step in completely eliminating the need to stop at front desk to check-in. "In 2014, we introduced digital check-in and room selection technology across our over 4,660 hotels worldwide. Using the Hilton HHonors app, guests are able to check-in and choose their exact room," said another Hilton official.

Digital check-in with room selection can be done by Hilton HHonors members. Vardharajan said that since members' personal and credit card details are already with the hotel, there is no need for them to go to the front desk and do any formality once they can open the door with their smartphones. Hilton currently has 15 properties in India and is going to double that number shortly.

"Then last year, we introduced 'digital key', offering HHonors members the option of bypassing the hotel check-in counter and accessing their rooms, as well as any other area of the hotel that requires a key, directly via the Hilton HHonors app on their smartphones. Digital key is expected to be launch in Asia Pacific by 2017," the official added.

Digital check-in is now a common feature in leading Indian hotels which are now increasingly adopting technology to ensure a seamless room selection, check-in and stay. With technology emerging as the key differentiator in hospitality industry, the big area where India hotels are focussing is on increasing internet bandwidth as guests are now travelling with more gadgets that require Wi-Fi connectivity.

"Keeping in mind the evolving needs of consumers and feedback from patrons, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is upgrading the current Wi-Fi plans across Taj, Vivanta and Gateway Hotels. While earlier, guests could connect up to 2-3 devices as part of the standard complimentary plan, they will now be able to connect up to 4 devices under the same plan. Similarly, under the premium chargeable plan, guests will now we able to connect up to 5 devices. Guests who make reservations directly through the Taj website will also receive enhanced data bandwidth of 1.5Mbps for up to 4 devices. Also, Taj platinum inner circle members will be offered enhanced data speed of 5Mbps for up to 5 devices across properties," a spokesperson for the Taj group told TOI recently.

Arijit Bhattacharjee, GM (information systems) for ITC Hotels recently said: "ITC has been ensuring that guaranteed bandwidth is made available in guest rooms for up to four devices per room. The throughput made available is not only sufficient for basic tasks like web browsing and mailing but also for video chats, streaming media, VPN connections, etc. For highly intensive internet use, ITC also offers the purchase of a premium bandwidth plan. ITC offers complimentary internet access to key loyalty programme members (Club ITC and WelcomClub). Internet inclusive rates are also available while making room reservations."